Beverage dispensing gas consumption detection with alarm and backup operation

• US 7,717,294 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: South-Tek Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: South-Tek Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Bodemann, Timothy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US11/156,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20060283877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/4, 222/23, 222/39, 222/53, 222/59, 222/61, 222/396, 222/399, 222/129, 222/129.1, 222/129.2, 222/132, 222/129.4, 222/133, 222/134, 222/145.1, 222/135, 222/145.6
• US Class Current: 222/53
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0878 Safety, warning or controlling devices B67D1/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A mixed-gas beverage dispensing system for driving beverages from a container to a tap with a predetermined ratio of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen (N₂) gas includes one or more monitors to detect excessive consumption of N₂. The system may include a N₂ generator, with a monitor monitoring the N₂ generator to detect excessive operation thereof. The system may include a N₂ reservoir, with a monitor monitoring the pressure in the N₂ reservoir. The system may include a volumetric gas flow meter interposed in one or more mixed-gas distribution lines to monitor the flow of mixed gas. Upon detecting consumption of N₂ gas in excess of a predetermined threshold, a monitor may trigger an audible, visual, or electronic alarm; may shut down operation of the system; and/or may switch to one or more backup gas tanks containing CO₂, N₂ or a predetermined blend thereof, for continued beverage dispensing operation.

Claims

1. A blended-gas beverage dispensing system, comprising:

a nitrogen (N₂) gas source;

a carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas source;

a controller operative to blend and dispense at least one predetermined mixture of N₂ and CO₂ gases to one or more beverage containers; and

a monitor operative to detect excessive consumption of the N₂ by the system.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more backup gas sources, each supplying N₂, CO₂, or a predetermined blend thereof.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein, in response to the monitor, the controller is further operative to dispense gas from a backup gas source to one or more beverage containers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the N₂ source is a N₂ generator operative to extract N₂ gas from atmospheric air.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the monitor is operative to detect excessive operation of the N₂ generator.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the monitor monitors the power consumed by the N₂ generator.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the monitor monitors the duration of operation of the N₂ generator.

8. The system of claim 4 further comprising a N₂ gas storage reservoir.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the monitor is operative to detect a decrease in pressure in the N₂ gas storage reservoir below a predetermined threshold.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitor monitors a volumetric flow of gas in one or more gas flow lines connecting the gas blender to one or more of the beverage containers.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitor is further operative to shut the system down upon detecting excessive consumption of N₂ in the system.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitor is further operative to trigger an alarm upon detecting excessive consumption of N₂ in the system.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the alarm is audible.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the alarm is visible.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the alarm is an electronic signal communicated to a data processing system.

16. The system of claim 12 where the alarm activates a wireless communication to a service technician.

17. A method of dispensing beverages, comprising:

mixing nitrogen (N₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) gases in a predetermined ratio to produce a beverage dispensing gas mixture;

distributing the beverage dispensing gas mixture to at least one beverage container; and

monitoring the distributing to detect excessive consumption of N₂.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising terminating the distribution in response to detecting excessive consumption of N₂.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising issuing an alarm in response to detecting excessive consumption of N₂.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the alarm is audible.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the alarm is visible.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the alarm is an electronic signal communicated to a data processing system.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising distributing beverage dispensing gas from at least one backup source to at least one beverage container in response to detecting excessive consumption of N₂.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the backup source contains N₂.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the backup source contains CO₂.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the backup source contains a predetermined blend of CO₂ and N₂.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein monitoring the distribution comprises monitoring the volumetric flow of mixed gas in one or more gas flow lines connected to the at least one beverage dispenser.

28. The method of claim 17 further comprising generating N₂ from atmospheric air by an N₂ generator.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein monitoring the distribution comprises monitoring the operation of the N₂ generator.

30. The method of claim 17 wherein monitoring the operation of the N₂ generator comprises monitoring the power consumed by the N₂ generator.

31. The method of claim 17 wherein monitoring the operation of the N₂ generator comprises monitoring the duration of operation of the N₂ generator.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising storing generated N₂ gas in a pressurized tank.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein monitoring the distribution comprises monitoring the pressure in the N₂ tank.

36. The system of claim 30, further comprising alarm means for alerting a user to the excessive consumption of N₂ by the system.

34. A blended-gas beverage dispensing system, comprising:

a nitrogen (N₂) gas source;

a carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas source;

a gas blender operative to blend and dispense at least one predetermined mixture of N₂ and CO₂ gases to one or more beverage containers; and

monitoring means for detecting excessive consumption of the N₂ by the system.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising one or more backup gas sources, and wherein the blended-gas beverage dispensing system is operative to dispense gas from the a backup gas source to one or more beverage containers in response to detecting excessive consumption of N₂ by the system.